In a plan announced at the Clinton Global Initiative this week, the company said it would cut its global plastic shopping bag waste by an average of 33 percent per store by 2013, and introduce a 50-cent disposable bag to help them get there.

From the press release:

Wal-Mart’s efforts could reduce energy consumption by approximately 678,000 barrels of oil per year and reduce CO2 emissions by 290,000 metric tons per year – equivalent to taking more than 53,000 passenger vehicles off the road annually.

As part of the goal to reduce plastic bag waste, Wal-Mart stores in Mexico and the United States are introducing new, more affordable reusable bags. Earlier this month, Wal-Mart de Mexico introduced reusable bags at one-third the cost of its current bags. In the United States, Walmart will offer reusable bags beginning in October for 50 cents each.

Looks like Wal-Mart is anticipating a greater push for bag waste reduction. Of course, we have yet to see it work.

How does this approach compare to what the City of Seattle has proposed? Would you rather governments lead the switch, or retailers?